Evaluation of soft palate thickness in brachycephalic dogs 3 months after folded flap palatoplasty versus standard staphylectomy.

Objective: To evaluate the soft palate thickness in brachycephalic dogs 3 months after performing folded flap palatoplasty (FFP) or standard staphylectomy (STS).

Study design: Prospective, observational study.

Animals: Twenty client-owned dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome undergoing corrective multilevel upper airway surgery.

Methods: Clinical examination consisted of an exercise tolerance test (ETT) and evaluation of the oropharynx and larynx. Computed tomography (CT) of the skull was performed to measure the length (LEN), rostral thickness (RTH), and middle thickness (MTH) of the soft palate, with calculations of the longitudinal cross-sectional area (CSA) and palatal volume (VOL). Dogs were assigned to undergo FFP (n = 10) or STS (n = 10). Examinations were repeated 3 months postoperatively.

Results: The ETT score 3 months postoperatively improved in 6/8 dogs in the FFP group and in 10/10 dogs in the STS group. Shortening of the soft palate resulted in reduction of the median LEN, CSA, and VOL after both FFP and STS. Median rostral thickness increased by 8.2% (IQR -2.0 to 20.6) after FFP and by 10.1% (IQR 1.0 to 15.7) after STS. Median middle thickness increased by 7.9% (IQR -5.0 to 20.9) after FFP and decreased by 16.9% (IQR -27.0 to -0.4) after STS.

Conclusion: Folded flap palatoplasty did not result in decreased soft palate thickness in the dogs in this study when evaluated by CT 3 months postoperatively.

Clinical significance: Folded flap palatoplasty and STS both resulted in postoperative clinical improvement. Future studies, including a CT immediately postoperatively, could indicate whether the soft palate is thinned immediately after FFP.